Angelina Ballerina (TV series)
A young mouse who loves ballet and dreams big.
Angelina Ballerina is a British animated television series for preschoolers, based on the book series by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig. It follows a young mouse named Angelina Mouseling, who loves ballet, along with her family and classmates. HIT Entertainment produced the show, with animation by Grand Slamm Children's Films. It ran on CITV for two series between 2001 and 2003, followed by three direct-to-video specials released in 2003 and 2004. A CGI revival, *Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps*, picked up where the original left off and aired for five series from 2009 to 2010.
The main character, Angelina Mouseling (voiced by Finty Williams), is a helpful, feisty, and soft-spoken white mouse who dreams of becoming a famous prima ballerina. She can be hot-headed and demanding but means well. Her ballet teacher, Miss Lilly (voiced by Judi Dench), has a Russian accent and is a kind, loving instructor and mother figure, though she can seem negative when scolding mistakes. Miss Lilly grew up in Dacovia, a land far from Mouseland.
Angelina's best friend is Alice Nimbletoes (voiced by Jo Wyatt), a soft-voiced mouse with a Yorkshire accent who is skilled at gymnastics. In *The Next Steps*, Alice appears slightly lighter in color. Angelina's cousin, Henry Mouseling (also voiced by Jo Wyatt), is the son of Lavender and Louis. William Longtail (voiced by Keith Wickham) is the only boy in Miss Lilly's ballet class and sometimes has a crush on Angelina. His father, Mr. Longtail (also Keith Wickham), works as a Station Porter and praises his son's efforts.
Twin sisters Priscilla and Penelope Pinkpaws (voiced by Jo Wyatt and Jonell Elliott, with roles swapping in *Angelina Sets Sail*) are grumpy, rude, and jealous of Angelina's dancing talent. They have a baby brother. Sammy Watts (voiced by Jo Wyatt) is a school bully who causes trouble for William and Angelina but has a kind heart. His father, Mr. Watts, appears only in a few episodes.
Angelina's father, Maurice Mouseling (Keith Wickham), runs the Mouseland Gazette. Her mother, Matilda Mouseling (Jonell Elliott), has a sister named Amanda. Angelina's younger sister, Polly Mouseling (Jo Wyatt), is four years old in *The Next Steps*. Their paternal grandparents are Grandma Sophia (Adrienne Posta) and Grandpa Jeffery (Keith Wickham).
- Field
- Children's television
- Nationality
- British
- Known for
- Animated preschool series about a dancing mouse
- Original run
- 2001–2003
- Network
- CITV (UK), PBS Kids (US)
- Revival
- Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps (2009–2010)
Lore & Background
The series follows Angelina Mouseling, a helpful, feisty, quiet, and soft-voiced little white dancing mouse who loves to dance and always dreams of becoming a famous prima ballerina. She has the tendency to come off as rather hot-headed and demanding at times, but ultimately means quite well. Her ballet teacher, Miss Lilly, voiced by Judi Dench, is a kind and loving instructor with a Russian accent who grew up in Dacovia. Angelina's best friend is Alice Nimbletoes, a soft-voiced Yorkshire-accented mouse skilled at gymnastics. Other classmates include William Longtail, the only boy in the class, and the grumpy twin sisters Priscilla and Penelope Pinkpaws, who are jealous of Angelina's talent.
Reader's Guide
The series was a significant adaptation of the popular book series, bringing the character of Angelina to a wider audience through television. It aired on CITV in the UK and was presented by Connecticut Public Television and distributed nationally by PBS Kids in the United States from 2002 to 2003, with reruns continuing on select stations through 2009 and on PBS Kids Sprout. The first episode of series 2, 'The Proposal,' won the Best Animation category at the Indie Awards in 2004. The revival series, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, produced by SD Entertainment and HIT Entertainment, ran from 2009 to 2010 and was criticized by fans of the original for redesigning or removing several characters and changing the setting and format. A second revival was announced in 2015 by Mattel and 9 Story Media Group, intended for 2017, but did not come to fruition.
Did You Know?
- Finty Williams performed the voice of Angelina, and her mother Judi Dench performed the voice of Miss Lilly.
- The series was produced by HIT Entertainment with animation production by Grand Slamm Children's Films.
- A CGI revival series, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, aired for four series from 2009–2010.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Angelina Ballerina (TV series)?
It is a British animated preschool show that follows Angelina Mouseling, a young mouse with a passion for ballet, as she deals with family life, friendships, and dance-school challenges. The series was adapted from the Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig book franchise and produced by HIT Entertainment.
How many seasons of Angelina Ballerina (TV series) exist?
The original 2D run comprised two series on CITV (2001–2003) plus three direct-to-video specials in 2003 and 2004. A separate CGI revival, Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, then added five more series between 2009 and 2010.
Who is the main character in Angelina Ballerina (TV series)?
Angelina Mouseling is a young mouse who dreams of becoming an outstanding ballerina and serves as the heart of every episode. Her stories typically revolve around perseverance, learning new steps, and growing up alongside her family and classmates.
Where did Angelina Ballerina (TV series) originally air?
In the United Kingdom the show broadcast on CITV, while PBS Kids carried it for American preschool audiences. The later CGI continuation, The Next Steps, extended the franchise's reach to a new generation of young viewers.
Who created and produced Angelina Ballerina (TV series)?
HIT Entertainment oversaw production, with Grand Slamm Children's Films handling the actual animation work. The on-screen world was built from the Angelina Ballerina picture books written by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig.
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